Jimmy Buffett's Parrothead party experience will return to Frisco after one-year break

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Lara Solt/Staff Photographer

Train Edmondson drinks out of a beer bong while Mollie Blessing pours in the parking lot before the Jimmy Buffett concert at the Gexa Energy Pavilion at Fair Park in Dallas on Thursday, April 19, 2012.

FRISCO — We've been waiting for weeks for the final announcement, and on Monday morning, it finally came: After a one-year break from performing in Frisco, Jimmy Buffett will be back in Frisco’s “finland” for a show on May 4 at FC Dallas Stadium as part of his "Songs From St. Somewhere" Tour 2013.

“We see it as more than a show: It’s more of a destination,” said Nick Shafer, vice president of stadium operations at FC Dallas Stadium, of the concert's return to Frisco. “People come from all over to hang out for the whole weekend.”

In years past, we've seen riding lawn chairs, flying Jell-o shots, and pirate-clad men and women who spend nearly 48 hours singing, dancing, and drinking in the parking lot. Many of the most avid fans sleep in cars or RVs Friday through Sunday.

FC Dallas Stadium has room for up to 28,000 concertgoers, though as many as 40,000 or more are expected the weekend on May 4, Shafer said. The gates will open at 9 a.m. Friday, May 3, for fans who want to spend the weekend partying in the parking lot. About 5,800 parking spaces are available on FC Dallas grounds for cars and RVs, not including grass parking and non-venue parking.

Shafer hopes to bring back the atmosphere Buffett fans found in Frisco two years ago: “We know how important it is for the fans,” he said. “We hope to have the same atmosphere we had the year prior [in 2011]. That’s hopefully why Jimmy chose to come back here.”

One big change this year is that golf carts will not be allowed in the parking lots for safety reasons. In concerts past, the parking lot in Frisco became jammed with fans and golf carts a few hours prior to the Saturday night show. “It’s starting to get a little crazy, and this year, we want to ensure everyone’s safety,” he said.

Concert tickets are available for pre-sale Tuesday through Thursday for Buffett fans on a special list. Tickets open to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday, February 15. Ticket prices range from $45 to $126, Shafer said.

Prices for parking spaces are $80 for a single car Friday through Sunday morning; $230 for an RV or camper (which incudes 4 spots) for the same time frame; or $40 for a car on Saturday only. The Jimmy Buffett VIP Gold Lot Overnight Parking – guaranteed, pre-sold parking – costs $500. Other pricing is available at fcdallasstadium.com.

The concert is organized by AEGLive, and Senior Marketing Manager Scott Strong said the company is thrilled to be part of the tour’s return to Frisco. Since Buffett’s earliest days performing in Frisco, the area near Main Street and the Dallas North Tollway has built up to include dozens of restaurants, shops, and bars within easy walking distance to FC Dallas Stadium.

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